Fansided

Red Sox steal division rival pitching coach to join Alex Cora's staff

By Katie Manganelli |
May 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt (38) walks to the dugout before the game Pittsburgh Pirates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
May 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt (38) walks to the dugout before the game Pittsburgh Pirates at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Shortly after their 2024 season ended, the Boston Red Sox organization dismissed multiple members of Alex Cora's coaching staff.

Boston parted ways with its former bullpen coach, Kevin Walker, after a historic second-half collapse from its relief arms. On Nov. 13, Walker's replacement was announced.

The Red Sox have hired former Orioles director of pitching and pitching coach Chris Holt to be their new bullpen coach, first reported by Roch Kubatko of MASN. Holt has received a formal offer from the Red Sox organization and his hiring is expected to be made official sometime in the week of Nov. 17.

Holt moved to Baltimore from the Astros organization alongside general manager Mike Elias before the 2019 season. He served two seasons as the Orioles organization's minor league pitching coordinator before he was promoted to major league pitching coach for the 2021 campaign.

Red Sox hire former Orioles pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt as bullpen coach

Multiple quality hurlers have emerged from Baltimore's bullpen during Holt's tenure with the club, including Yennier Cano, Félix Bautista, Cionel Pérez and Albert Suárez. One of Craig Breslow's main goals as Red Sox chief baseball officer is to overhaul the organization's pitching development program, and Holt's track record suggests he'll be a solid addition to Boston's coaching staff.

Holt will work alongside pitching coach Andrew Bailey, director of pitching Justin Willard and game-planning coordinator Jason Varitek to continue to revamp the Red Sox's pitcher development. Bailey and Willard made great strides in 2024, and Holt, who has been described as a "pitching guru," should help the Sox avoid another second-half bullpen disaster.

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